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System Shock 2: What’s up, Watts?

(This is part of my journey playing through System Shock 2. You can follow the entire series on the Nostalgia Lane page.)

Already I’m starting to dread that horrible monkey sound in this game, because I know that before too long I’m going to have some teed off primate tossing psychic poo in my face. Listen, monkey, I never did anything to you. I’m an innocent pawn in this messed-up world.

Of course, if I had an angry face grafted onto my belly, I’d probably be indiscriminately angry. Great PDA quote: “Does anyone have any idea how much crap 150 monkeys make in a day?”

I start today’s session by moving down a corridor, which is obviously a horrible sin because a turret and a monkey start shooting at me. Then it gets better when I duck into a nearby room, because Mr. Security Camera whips up a gaggle of opposition for me. So alarms, monkeys screaming, and voices spouting out mad jibberish fill my ears with happy fun time.

It’s also disconcerting when the hybrids attack while screaming, “I’m soRRRYy!” Sorry doesn’t get me a new jaw, pal.

As I plunge into the crew quarters, the PDAs that I pick up continue to unravel the backstory leading up to the events of this broken ship. One PDA talks about a guy who dies with the parasite attached and then resurrects (a hybrid), while another discusses “first contact” on a nearby planet.

In a neat little touch, the game lets me fiddle with an art projector to show different scenes in a guy’s quarters. Another room has a grenade launcher, which totally makes me happy until I find out it’s jammed. I pull out the grenades and toss the launcher — my inventory is too full as it is. Far better than that, however, is an armory room that decks me out with an assault rifle and lots of ammo. Have I mentioned that I need more space in my inventory? I hate not being able to hold everything.

Around the same area are a few upgrade machines. One gives me the choice between several awesome perks, but I choose to get three more inventory slots because of my whining above. I also beef up my strength and health. Watch out world, here I come!

Moving on to more crew quarters, I’m a little dismayed to see the bottom section flooding with water. Because outer space is a big ocean and the ship is sinking? I guess?

Or perhaps this toilet is overflowing really, really badly. It’s all the janitor’s fault, I knew it!

Our goal here is to find the elusive Dr. Watts. He’s not in his room (really, why would he be at a time like this?) but his R&D access card is. Score!